Paddle-wheel



(No Model.)

- R. MITCHELL.

'PADDLB WHEEL No. 575,845. Patented Jan. 25, 1 897.

UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE."

RANDALL MITCHELL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PADDLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 575,845, dated January 26, I897. Application filed September 11, 1896. Serial No. 605,477. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RANDALL MITCHELL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Deprovement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a rear view of my improved submerged paddle-wheel Fig. 2, a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line a: :c of Fig. 1; Fig. 4., a detail view.

My invention pertains to improvements in paddle-wheels for steam vessels; and my object is to provide a simple, practical, and durable device, inexpensive in construction, effective in operation, and easily controlled by an officer or outlook in charge of a vessel without stopping or otherwise interfering with the operation of the engines.

The peculiar construction and exceptional advantages of the invention will be apparent by referring to the accompanying drawings, in wl1ich- V A represents the hull of a vessel, provided on its outer side with a recess 2 of the required dimensions and protected by a metal plate 3. The paddles 4 and 5 are fixed at right angles each to the other and have their inner ends connected by a rod 6, adapted to rotate in a sleeve 7, having a lateral rightangled extension 8 attached to the outer end of the wheel-shaft 9, which is journaled in a stuifing-box 10. Acircular metal plate 11 is rotatably attached to the stuffing-box, its outer border being in close engagement with the inner edge of a circular opening in the metal plate 3. A circular cam 12 is integrally attached at one side to the plate 11, as at 13, its opposite side being connected therewith and supported by interposed bars or posts 14:. The paddles are provided near their inner ends with antifriction-rollers 15. A sprocket.- wheel 16 is fixed on the stuffing-box 10, and connected by a chain belt to a similar wheel 17, journaled in the upper part of the recess 2. The inner extremity of the shaft of the wheel 17 carries a lever 18, having at its upper end a latch adapted to adj ustably engage a notched segment.

The operation of the device will now be described. It will be observed that the position of the lever 18, acting through the sprocket wheel and connecting-chain, governs the position of the circular cam-plate, which in turn controls the relative position of the paddles.

In the drawings it will be seen that the lower paddle is in operative position, while the up- Y per, being transversely disposed, presents its edge to the water and is therefore inoperative. These positions are maintained While the rollers of both paddles are traveling over the plane sections 19 and 20 of the surface of the cam, the inwardly-cuiwed sections being indicated by shaded lines. Then the lower paddle approaches the surface of the water,

the rollers will engage the outwardly-curved section of the cam, and the roller of the upper paddle being relieved by passing over the oppositely-inclined section the paddles will necessarily turn until their former positions are reversed.

Among the prominent advantages of the device the following may be enumerated:

The paddles being entirely submerged are not exposed to injury from floating timberor other obstructions.

The progress of the vessel is easily and prompt-1y controlled by the lever in the hands of the officer on watch. Being first to discover danger ahead, he can instantly reverse the motion of the wheels by changing the position of the circular cam without waiting to signal the engineer to stop and reverse the engines. The time thus saved will in many instances avert disastrous collisions.

In navigating narrow and crooked streams, or when approaching a dock or landing, the motion of either wheel may be retarded or stopped, as desired, for the time being.

A vessel may be held in a fixed position against a current or head-wind to permit an exchange of signals with other vessels or parties on shore wheneverdesired. Allthese and other desirable performances are executed without the cooperation of the engineer.

It will be furthermore understood that if an increase of power should make an increase of paddle-surface desirable a series of shafts may be furnished with paddles and operated in conjunction.

of the paddles; the sprocket-Wheels, the belt or chain connecting the same and the latchlever whereby the feathering action of the paddles may be instantly reversed or their relative positions otherwise adjusted as desired, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, this 20th day of August, 1896, in the presence of Witnesses.

RANDALL MITCHELL.

Vitnesses:

H. M. McCoRMAcK, TERRESSIA HOWARD. 

